I will lay down my life for you… the cock will not crow before you deny me three times

John 13:21-33, 36-38

Lord, it's all about YOU!!!

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."  The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.  One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side.  So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.  He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?"  Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it."  So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.  After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.  So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."  Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.  Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor.  So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.  My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.  You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you."

Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?"  Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later."  Peter said to him, "Master, why can I not follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you."  Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?  Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."

I will lay down my life for you… the cock will not crow before you deny me three times

Lord,

I have believed I would willingly die for you but I also know my weaknesses and so do you.  I can say that now, but I have not been tested.  And my gut tells me I am only fooling myself.

Don’t worry or even think about it.  You will not be tested in that way but you are laying your life down for me every time you stand up for me when it hurts or is uncomfortable or when you stand up at opposition.  When you are dying to self, you are dying for me.  You are doing it a little at a time each day.  I know what you are capable of and I will not test you beyond your boundaries.  I love you and I want your love. I am God and I know what you have to give.  Do not fear me asking more from you than you have to give.  Every day your boundaries are stretching.  You can do things today that you could not do last week or last month.  You are become stronger and more enlightened every day.  Be patient with yourself and do not expect more than I do.